Background document for the rural extension and outreach project for Central Tunisia

Pre-project paper is based on field visits, meetings with Government of Tunisia and USAID/T personnel, and review of the project identification document (PID). The project will develop two entities - an Extension Support Services Unit (ESSU) to provide extension coordination and support and an Agricultural Extension Service (AES), consisting of field agents who will work directly with farmers. During Phase I, an ESSU communications unit will be established to collect, process, and disseminate information to field agents. In addition, new agricultural packages will be introduced to farmers practicing irrigation and trial plots will be established in dryland farming areas to test new cereal varieties. Training will be provided to extension personnel. Phase II will continue work initiated in Phase I and will build the capacity of the communications unit to address general rural needs. Two evaluation seminars will be held. Included in this paper are analyses of rural needs, land tenure, and the project's technical and administrative feasibility. Also provided are a budget and implementation plan.